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Albanian Times, 96-06-07
Albanian Times
June 7, 1996
CONTENTS
[01] Voting May Repeat in More than 4 Constituencies
[02] Seven Police Chiefs Fired Over Crackdown
[03] Prosecutor Demands Long Jail Terms For Ex-Officials
[04] U.S. Opens Information Office in Kosova
[05] E.U. to Fund Clean Beaches Project
[06] Nebex Announcement
[01] Voting May Repeat in More than 4 Constituencies
TIRANA, June 6 - More constituencies appear to be heading for repeat elections
due to alleged irregularities in Albania's May 26 vote, Radio Tirana said.
Four electoral zones, 2 in Fier, 1 in Puka and 1 in Elbasan have already been
designated for new elections and the Central Electoral Commission is reviewing
evidence of vote-rigging in other constituencies. According to Albanian press
reports, as much as 40 constituencies have been targeted for verification by
the CEC. The Democratic Party has filed claims on vote manipulations in a
dozens of zones. Similar demands for repeat election have been filed by the
Republican Party, the Human Rights Union Party, Balli Kombetar and the
Legality Movement but none by the opposition Socialist Party, the Social-
Democratic Party and the Democratic Alliance. A presidential decree based on
the CEC findings is expected to confirm the constituencies where voting is to
be repeated and the date of the new election. Albanian authorities appear to
be bowing to international
pressure after widespread criticism by foreign observers who insist the vote
was rigged. In a meeting Wednesday in Brussels with Albanian opposition
leaders Servet Pellumbi, Neritan Ceka, Skender Gjinushi and Petrit Kalakulla,
the E.C. Commissioner Christos Papoutsis has called on president Berisha to
start the dialogue with the opposition. Reportedly, he also asked the
opposition parties to demonstrate responsibility in their actions. The
Democrats appear to be responding positively to international calls. The
Democratic Party Secretary for International Affairs, Albert Brojka told
reporters on Thursday his party agrees that political dialogue is the best way
to solve the problem. Brojka also asked foreign observers to provide credible
evidence on the alleged rigging in the May 26 ballot. (Albanian Times)
[02] Seven Police Chiefs Fired Over Crackdown
TIRANA, June 6 - Albania's Interior Ministry has fired 7 police officials over
the violent crackdown of an opposition rally in central Tirana on May 28. The
rally was staged to protest what the opposition called serious manipulation in
the May 26 general election by the ruling Democratic Party. Two of the senior
officials -- a colonel and deputy colonel -- were vice-directors in the
Interior Ministry whereas the others were senior officers at Tirana police
stations. A statement of the Interior Ministry said the prosecutor's office
was investigating the May 28 incidents in the capital's main Skanderbeg
Square. Many of the allegations over ballot rigging have been confirmed by
Western observers who monitored voting at
some 300 polling stations on May 26. However, others insist they saw no
serious violations of the law and that the elections can be considered valid.
In a press conference on Thursday, leaders of the Democratic Party defended
their view on the elections, saying although there were some irregularities,
the Democrat victory should be seen as a repeat performance of the 1992 vote.
The Democrats captured a 88 percent majority in the elections, but full
results have yet to be announced. (Albanian Times)
[03] Prosecutor Demands Long Jail Terms For Ex-Officials
TIRANA, June 6 - A prosecutor in Tirana has demanded long prison terms for
three former communist officials accused of crimes against humanity. The
defendants Piro Kondi, Qiriako Mihali, and Sulejman Bushati have been charged
with ordering the internal exile of dissidents. The prosecutor has demanded a
total of 56 years in prison for the three. The demand came just two weeks
after a Tirana court imposed the death penalty on former Supreme Court
chairman Aranit Cela, former prosecutor-general Rrapi Mino and former deputy
interior minister Zylyftar Ramizi, who also headed the notorious Sigurimi
secret police. The court also sentenced to life imprisonment Haxhi Lleshi,
Albania's president from 1953 to 1982, and former deputy prime minister Manush
Myftiu under a controversial new ``genocide'' law for allegedly conspiring to
eradicate an entire section of society, dissidents.
Around 100,000 Albanians are believed to have been deported into remote
villages under communism. A third trial against another group of former
senior official is continuing in Tirana. (Albanian Times)
[04] U.S. Opens Information Office in Kosova
BELGRADE, June 5 - A senior U.S. official established the first formal
American presence in Kosova Wednesday by opening a U.S. Information Center in
the regional capital. Acting Assistant Secretary of State John Kornblum told a
news conference the center was ``an example of the continuing commitment of
the United States both to try and move forward the situation in Kosova but
also to be with the people of Kosova.'' Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic,
at talks with Secretary of State Warren Christopher in Geneva Sunday, agreed
that the U.S. information center could open. Although the center has no
formal diplomatic role, Kornblum indicated that he hoped it would play a part
in resolving ethnic tensions. ``Information, culture and knowledge have always
been seen as the foundation of the modern democratic way of life. Those who
wish to stifle democracy begin by stifling information,'' he said. ``We
believe that by allowing access to the many new kinds of information
resources, and providing a center as a me
eting place...we will be able to contribute to the foundations for a
democratic future.'' (Albanian Times/Reuters)
[05] E.U. to Fund Clean Beaches Project
TIRANA, June 6 - The European Union has allocated ECU 50,000 to clean
Albania's main summer resort of Durres and other beaches on the country's
Adriatic coast. The project to be administered through the E.U.'s PHARE
program was announced on June 5, the international Environment Protection Day.
(Albanian Times)
[06] Nebex Announcement
CALGARY, June 6 - NEBEX Resources Ltd. (NBX:ASE) said Albania continues to be
the prime focus of the Corporation's activities. The exploration drilling
program in Albania is continuing as previously announced and all planned
exploration activities are adequately funded, the company said. Mr. James A.
Kelly has tendered his resignation as Vice-President, Mr. Greg Mosher, Project
Manager and Mr. Mike Trapnell, Senior Project
Geologist will continue to lead the Albanian exploration team which has
expanded to eight Canadian Geologists and 25 Albanian geotechnicians, a Nebex
announcement said. (Albanian Times)
This material was reprinted with permission of AlbAmerica Trade & Consulting
International. For more information on ATCI and the Albanian Times, please
write to [email protected]
Copyright © ATCI, 1996
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